Healthy Babies & Kids

As parents, grandparents, family members and caregivers we all want the same things for the little people in our lives, health and happiness. We want clean safe products and if they happen to have additional health and emotional benefits who would say no.  Well that was the reason we started using Young Living.  

We had a daughter who learned differently than her peers, and her focus, emotions,  and energy levels were a constant struggle.  She was so little that we couldn't medicate her and though we had pursued nutritional changes and supplement options, we still hadn't seen the kind of help she needed.  So in desperation I tried a combination of oils in a focus roller from my SIL that changed our lives.  And the rest is history.  We became a Young Living family, and the more I learned the more products we swapped out for safer plant derived options that wouldn't cause any possible long-term health issues.  So helping others create healthy family choices for themselves and the kids in their lives is close to my heart.  

Let's start at the beginning (you know babies).  I have 4 kids and 2 of those were what I like to call oily babies (meaning I oiled them for everything from tummy troubles to sleep).  Did you know that tons of baby products on the market (even green natural products) have fragrances and other chemicals added that could be harmful to your baby?  I know the word "fragrance" doesn't sound too horrible at first, but when you look closer and realize that these "fragrances" are any combination of up to 3000 chemicals (mostly synthetic). They create that smell, but they have no safeguards and little testing for health issues, and when you think about that it starts to sound a bit more concerning.  I could get on a crazy soap box here, but i'll just say:

Don't treat your little ones like guinea pigs while the powers that be decide whether those chemicals might be safe!

You have to be the gatekeeper to your own home and for us, that has meant ditching the conventional brands including those that have gone green. Instead we choose to trust a company that's been around 25 years and has such strict standards for excellence that their oils and products are tested 24+ times to ensure quality and safety. 

For our babies, there is no guessing when it comes to safety and health. Seedlings is Young Livings baby line and we adore it!  I mean really we use many of the products not just for baby (who is actually almost 2 now).  For instance, the baby wipes double as makeup remover and dryer sheets!  The line contains everything needed for the personal care of little ones, the only additional oils we used were for diffusing and discomfort. Gentle Baby was a staple to help our youngest with his digestive difficulties. We diluted 1 drop oil in a 10 ml roller filled with FCO (fractionated coconut oil). Frankincense to support his immune system and lavender to help his sleep.  We were careful to dilute and diffuse appropriately and paid close attention to the recommendations for safe oils based on age. 

​To help you do the same, lets talk dilution and oil safety by age:

When most people think dilute, they think watered down. But that isn’t really how dilution works with essential oils. Diluting means adding a “carrier” oil to them in order to slow the absorption rate, reduce evaporation, help distribute  the oils more evenly, protect skin from irritation and keep the body from getting too concentrated an amount at one time.

Kids and babies NEED dilution to ensure they are getting the correct and safe amount of essential oil for their age given their more permeable and delicate skin. To do this easily you can measure as you use them (good for oils that are only used occasionally) or create premixed rollers, creams, lotions, sprays or dropper bottles for those you use often. 

We buy Organic Fractionated coconut oil (FCO) on Amazon http://amzn.to/2k4zBR9 as our “carrier oil of choice” and it comes with a pump which makes mixing super simple for those that we measure as we go. However, most of our kids oils mixtures are prepared in rollers, creams, lotions and sprays or we use the KidScents predicted oils for our kids over 2. 

The best places to apply oils to baby are either on the feet or along the spine well diluted.  Here is handy foot vita flex chart that helped me. 

Once your little one isn't so young, they come with a new reality filled with fun, tantrums, school, and bigger bumps and bruises (usually). The really great thing about preschoolers is that they can tell you when things hurt, how they feel, and what they like and don't. Essential oils help us manage the ups and down and ins and outs of daily life with a strong willed growing preschooler. 

In this age group dilution is still so important, though they are getting bigger their bodies systems are still growing and need to be treated with caution. This is the age when we start using more rollers and balm stick, because in our house “I do it” is a common phrase. 

Our preschooler knows which oils he likes to use for what he needs.  Owie for bumps and bruises, Sleepyize for bedtime, Tummygize for belly aches, SniffleEase when his nose is running, and Happy Kiddo (Orange, Bergamot, and Peace & Calming) when he is having a tough day. Remember to teach them that oils are for mom & daddy to help you use, you can't touch them by yourself. 

Here is a quick reference of oils that are safe to use for kids ages 2 and up. At age 6 a few more oils join this list, but for the most part this will help you to navigate until they are older (between 10-12) and are good to use all the oils available. 

In addition, to oils Kidscents has shampoos, conditions, bath gels and lotions.  There are also kid friendly supplements like MightyPro (Pre & Probiotics my kids & I take daily), MightyVites (kids multivitamins) and MightyZymes (enzymes to help breakdown food and increase nutrient absorption).  All of these are must haves in our house. 

When school starts our world grows exponentially. Our older kids are more independent and now they spend more time away from us than they do with us. Sports, clubs, activities, and friends bring a whole different set of challenges than when they were young. So in our house we try to empower them with natural solutions to help them handle everyday life. Oil Sticks and rollers make it easy for our kids to be independent, while still allowing me to make sure they are getting the quality care and products that I want for them. We make lots of the oil recipes together and I explain what each oil is good for and how it can help support them. From Immunity rollers to diffuser blends at home we have cleared out our old medicine cabinet and swapped all our personal care products, replacing them with natural solutions that aren’t known endocrine disruptors, allergens, or just plain toxic. They even use oils at school. My daughters are allowed to keep their personal rollers and oil sticks in their lockers or desks to use when they need them.  And we've even got a few of their teachers and the school nurse diffusing now.

Adolescence! Does that word make anyone else cringe a little. I worked in Student Ministries for a total of about 10 years, 6 of those I was on staff. But the thought of my daughter as an adolescent makes me slightly nervous as a parent. Her tween/teen years are proving to be tough so far. Hormones, increased school stress, increased friend pressures, and busier lifestyles are our reality.

So we are doing all we can to find solutions for how to support her in this season of life. Our oils provide us an option to help us all with the years ahead as we slowly release our children, give them more independence, decision making abilities, responsibilities and trust, and train them to be their own people (the kind of adults we hope they become). We are relying on our oils and prayer more than ever!

SIGN UP & ORDER

Still need to get started using oils and non-toxic products in your home?  All you need to do to become a member of Young Living is purchase one of the Premium Starter Kits.  For most families I recommend starting with the Essential Oil Premium Starter Kit with Desert Mist diffuser or the Thieves Premium Starter Kit. Then make sure to click the box for Essential Rewards, so you are signed up to get your customizable "Monthly Wellness" subscription box. We have tons of classes and resources in our online groups that will help you make swaps all around your home and if you need ideas to fill your monthly box we can help with that too. 

Healthier homes don't have to be complicated or expensive.  The Starter Kits provide amazing options right off the bat, and we have tons of recipes and tricks to extending the life of those products and help you make easy DIY options to save a ton.  We really do spend less these days and our whole home is filled with toxic free products for all 6 of us.  Join us and let us walk with you on your wellness journey. 

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